Sunday, October 24, 2010

Q&A: Injection How - To's

Dear Lizzy:
In the previous post I read how one of your flock members was ill and needed a shot.  Just HOW do you give a chicken a shot, and how does a person know what the correct dosage of medicine would be for a hen?
Frightened of Shots

Dear Frightened:
You think YOU'RE frightened of shots - try being poor ROBYN!!!  She was totally unprepared for what was coming up the first time around!  But, to answer your question, Penicillin is injected under the skin, in a thick muscle, such as the upper leg or thigh on a chicken.  Robyn is way too thin to take an injection into her breast - she's lost a lot of weight in a short amount of time, and there's no "meat" there to put the needle into.  The first thing you have to do is CATCH the hen!  (No problem with Robyn - she is ill and easily tricked.)  Next, pick up the bird and place it carefully onto its back, stroking her from neck to breast for a few moments to relax her.  The last step is to hold a leg out from the body, and after locating a meaty area, part the feathers down to the skin, push the needle in, aspirate it back (to be sure there's no blood in the needle), and if all is well, release the medicine into the leg muscle.  Easy Peasy!  The first time or two it might be easiest to have an assistant.
  As for dosage, the Chicken Wrangler phoned the vet.  1/4 cc was the amount he recommended, 2 to 3 times a day for 5 - 7 days.  We are hoping it works its magic for Robyn this week.  Thanks for all of the well wishes - Robyn was happy to hear of your concerns for her well-being.
Signed -
Lizzy

6 comments:

Angela said...

I'm glad you have the Chicken Wrangler there to take care of you girls! I do hope that Robyn gets better soon!

Hugs,
Angela

kim said...

Hope Robyn gets well soon!

Rose said...

if ever a chicken not mine as i have none, you will be the on call lady for shots. rose

Denny said...

A speedy recovery for Robyn.I once took a bantam to my vet as she had a respiratory illness.I remember him doing that for her injection too.I did get some funny looks from people when they asked me what was in the little cat box.Some people just dont care about chookies & wouldnt dream of taking them to vets...:(

Verde Farm said...

The aspirating to see if there is blood--that's the part where I lose it when trying to give shots. It jsut scares me to death and thus I always mess it up. I admire your skills Wrangler :)
Amy

Chatty Crone said...

Monica,

I am so sorry about Robyn, I hope the medicine is taking affect and she is healing. Love, sandie